There are various ways to serve a nonprofit. You can volunteer your time – helping with projects, speaking to groups or working on administrative tasks. You also can support one through donations or other gifts – providing the financial resources they need to serve their cause.

When choosing an organization to join, though, you should carefully review its purpose and mission. After all, you are giving yourself to help make it successful.

So why become a member of a nonprofit group? Here are some reasons why.

More than 62.6 million Americans volunteer for great causes, which is about 24 percent of our country’s population. Though we still are -- as Arthur Schlesinger once wrote -- a “nation of joiners”, the number of people who give of their time has been declining.

Volunteers collective provide more than $175 billion worth of services. Getting them involved, however, is becoming more challenging. People are working longer hours and retirees – a great source of volunteers – often have to work part time to make ends meet.

If you find yourself in charge of recruiting volunteers, as a board member or organization leader, there are proven ways to get people into the fold. Here are some:

Many people want high-quality public education for all, but don't know how to support and advocate for it. Educators, parents, and community members must be empowered to act and speak out for public education.

If you are a school administrator or educator, feel free to share this list on your website, in your classroom newsletters, and on your school's website. By giving specific steps to those who want to help, you can empower others to become advocates of public education.